Acid Reflux

Three months ago I woke up in the middle of the night vomiting. No warning, no heart burn, no wake up and vomit - just I'm awake and vomiting. Afterwards, I had difficulty breathing, couldn't catch my breath, and after I did I catch my breath had a sore throat and my voice was rough for a couple of days. Saw a doctor in Hong Kong (where I live) and was given three weeks worth of antiacids and antigas meds. Since then, nothing has happened until three nights ago when I had another "attack" that went exactly like the first except I had a rattling in my chest afterwards and difficulty breathing so I went to the hospital. They admitted me for two nights and discharged me today with a perscription for an antiacid named Pariet.

Is this GERT, acid reflux, or something else? I do have a lot of gas buy almost never experience heart burn sensations.

I really need help and advice on this. I'm not getting much from my local doctors. Is vomiting a normal symptom for one of these conditions? Should I be looking for some other diagnosis? Why is this happening? I am afraid I'll wake up vomiting next time and NOT be able to catch my breath.

Cblurton

I've had reflux for 30 years(didn't realize what it was till about 10 years ago) the vomiting just doesn't sound like it. I've never vomited with it but a few time it felt like the acid was coming up and out of my throat. It feels like someone is pouring battery acid down your throat. after years of it scar tissue developed around the bottom of my espougas causing painful and difficult swallowing.
your symptoms just don't sound like GERD but I am not a doctor. I only speak from my experience. I would recommend seeing some other doctors.

I was diagnosed with GERD recently with my main symptom being random night vomiting. I wake up, I vomit, I'm fine again. As for the breathing problems, could you be inhaling vomit in the process..? I've done it before. Or could you possibly be having a bit of a panic attack as well? I've had anxiety and stomach problems my whole life. Anxiety is a strong trigger for bile production which does not help with GERD and can actually be the cause of it. For me, as soon as I think I'm going to vomit I panic. Symptoms of a panic attack are your heart pounding or feeling odd, sweating, trembling, trouble breathing, hyperventilating, chills, hot flashes, nausea, abdominal pain, sweating, chest pain, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, tightness in the throat, tunnel vision, trouble swallowing, a sense of impending death (or other extremely unpleasant event. like vomiting perhaps?), and feeling like you're having a heart attack.

GERD seems to be a pain to get under control. I'm only awake right now because I just woke up with the urge to vomit but nothing seemed to happen once I was upright and over the toilet.
My doctor has me on Prilosec OTC which has done wonders. This is my first flare up in over 6 months and I didn't even vomit this time. Another thing that can help is raising up the head of your bed so that the acid can use gravity to stay down while you sleep. This has also helped me a lot. There is also an over the counter chewable tablet called Gaviscon that is good for GERD because it creates a sort of gel barrier and helps keep the acid down. Now if I could just get my anxiety under control I'd be okay!
I hope you figure everything out.

quote:

Originally posted by cblurton:
Three months ago I woke up in the middle of the night vomiting. No warning, no heart burn, no wake up and vomit - just I'm awake and vomiting. Afterwards, I had difficulty breathing, couldn't catch my breath, and after I did I catch my breath had a sore throat and my voice was rough for a couple of days. Saw a doctor in Hong Kong (where I live) and was given three weeks worth of antiacids and antigas meds. Since then, nothing has happened until three nights ago when I had another "attack" that went exactly like the first except I had a rattling in my chest afterwards and difficulty breathing so I went to the hospital. They admitted me for two nights and discharged me today with a perscription for an antiacid named Pariet.

Is this GERT, acid reflux, or something else? I do have a lot of gas buy almost never experience heart burn sensations.

I really need help and advice on this. I'm not getting much from my local doctors. Is vomiting a normal symptom for one of these conditions? Should I be looking for some other diagnosis? Why is this happening? I am afraid I'll wake up vomiting next time and NOT be able to catch my breath.

Cblurton

I have been having the exact same problem and it keeps happening more often now. Think maybe I need to go back to the Dr., did you find out anything about your problem?

I found one medical article online that said such symptoms may occur in individuals who have a combination of both GERD and sleep apnea. After reading this I decided to stop eating at 6 p.m. (I normally go to sleep around 11 pm to midnight.) I haven't had a reoccurrence since, and it has been a long time now.

My brother had such sympthoms. He took some meds for treatment (ordered at totaldrugs24.com ). These meds really helped him. Ask your doctor, which pill is better for you. Hope it'll be useful.